Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-03
THOMAS ARMSTRONG.
The Death of Labor Leader aud Abl
Journalist.

The Death of n Labor Leader aud Able
Journalist.
The announcement of the death of Tho
mas Armstrong, senior editor OF the Pitts
burg Labor TribUne, and one of the recOg-
nized leaders in the labor cause in this
country, was received in this city with
much sorrow by workingmen in all walks
of industrial life. To many Wheeling peO-
pie Mr.. Armstrong was well known, but
even those who were not acquainted with
him, felt, through their knowledge of his
able efforts to advance the interests of the
woI kingmen, that they had lost a good
friend.
Mr. Armstrong had been confined TO his
room for about two weeks. On Saturday
September 10th, he took part in the Cere-
monies attending the unveiling of the
Braddock soldiers monument, and on that
occasion he carried the old flag of his
regiment The exposure of the day brought
on an illness and later developed an alb
cess. On Tuesday last his condition be-
came alarming, as he tainted from sheer
exhaustion, but the next day he SEEM
ed to rally, and his friends INDUCED
IN the hope that his recovery
was not far of. Last evening, however,
he was taken suddenly worse. About Z
O'Clock his relatives noticed a change in
his condition, and were further alarmed
by his remark: II believe my breath is
growing short" His physician, DR.. Shan
non, was summoned, and DIR. Willard was
called to consult, but at 7:25 the patient
hreathed his last The attending physi-
clans expressed the opinion that death was
caused by rheumatism of the heart, the
attack of which his eufeebled condition
rendered him unable to withstand. For
several years past the deceased has resided
at No. 2l2 LacOck street, Allegheny, where
he saw the last of earth.
Thomas A. krmstrong was born August
Is, 1910, in Steubenville, Ohio, and came
to Pittsburg in 1857. On August IL he
enlisted as q private in Company ], One
Hundred and Thirty-ninth regiment Penn
sylvania volunteers. His war record was
of. At the battle of Cedar creek, on October
l9, 1864, he received the wounds which indi-
rectly were the cause OF his death. On that
occasion every commissioned officer in his
company was disabled, and he "a a
sergeant led his companions to the fina
charge. At the close of the war he re-
sumed his trade and later took the editO-
nal chair of the Labor Tribune. Always an
earnest and conscientious advocate Of po-
litical and financial reform he early be-
came an enthusiastic Greenbacker, and in
1s82 he was the candidate of that party
for Governor. He was the first enlisted
man" ever nominated by any party since
the war, all Others having been commits
stoned officers.
For twenty-five years he belonged to
Pittsburg Lodge 45, A. Y. NJ, and for
nearly thirty years be was a member of
Typographical Union No. Z, having been
twice a delegate to the annual meeting Of
that body. In 1876 he joined the Knights
OF Labor, and to the last was an earnest
member Of that organization He was the
bosom friend of VIM. H. Sylvis, the
lamented president of the Iron Molders'
Union of North America; Of John Siney,
president of the Miners National AssOcia-
ton; Daniel Mclaughlin, of Illinois; John
Hinchcliffe, of Pennsylvania; K. V. Trey-
click, the great labor orator; Robert Schil-
ling, president of the CoOpers' 1nterna-
tiOnal union, and OF all the Other leaders
among working men Of later years-
Mr.. Armstrong, although classed among
those whose sympathies were on the side OF
labor, did not fail to show his best friends
the right path when a question of duty
came up. He did this, even at the cost of
popularity, as was illustrated at the last
coke strike when he earnestly strove for
industrial peace, and had his advice been
taken the coke workers would now be in 8
better shape to make terms with the em-
ployers. When he was nominated for Gov
ernor he was virtually opposed by I. v.
Powderly, but he forgaye this slight, and
for years past the great K. Of L. ehieftain
looked to Tom Armstrong for advice In all
questions pertaining 10 labor in this sec
tioa.